Discharge Planning and Aftercare Services

Making the decision to go to a residential treatment program in West Palm Beach is one of the most important and life-changing decisions you’ll ever make. However, going to detox and inpatient are only the first steps in sobriety. Being able to prevent relapse and sustain sobriety in the long term requires more than a brief stay in treatment. As a part of a full continuum of care, our discharge planning and aftercare services help you identify the steps you need to take after rehab to ensure you stay sober. 

The Importance of Aftercare

Leaving rehab isn’t always easy, especially if you are making the transition from 24/7 monitoring and care to independent living. Adapting to life outside of treatment while sober can be challenging, but aftercare services exist to provide you with continuing care and support so you can overcome your difficulties without picking up a drink or a drug.

Residential treatment allows you to dive deep into the underlying causes and conditions of your substance abuse. It also introduces you to healthy coping mechanisms and other skills you need to stay sober. However, aftercare allows you to practice what you learned in rehab in real-life situations while still obtaining professional guidance and support.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that 40-60 percent of people who seek treatment for substance abuse relapse at some point in their sobriety. Relapse isn’t an indicator of failed treatment – it is an indicator that treatment and aftercare methods need to be adjusted to meet the needs of the patient. A thorough and individualized aftercare plan that addresses whole-person wellness is one of the best ways to prevent relapse and help individuals get back on track after a relapse.

What Will Your Discharge Plan Look Like After Addiction Treatment?

Here at Daylight Recovery Center, we recognize that no two individuals have the exact same treatment needs. Everyone is unique and has their own path to recovery, which is why our trained staff makes individualized recommendations for rehab aftercare based on your clinical, medical, and financial necessities.

Your discharge plan will involve much more than simply abstaining from drugs and alcohol. It will involve therapeutic interventions and services that address all areas of your life, including emotional, physical, vocational, social, and psychological. After completing addiction treatment, your discharge plan may involve several or all of the following:

• Medication management for substance use disorder and co-occurring disorders
• Attendance and participation in 12-Step meetings or other alternative support groups
• Family involvement and therapy
• Continued treatment in PHP, IOP, or OP
• Drug and alcohol-free supportive housing at a sober living home
• Random drug testing and/or breathalyzer tests
• Facility-sponsored services like alumni groups, online support groups, and group therapy
• One-on-one mental health counseling
• Life skills training, job training or assistance, and/or parenting classes
• Holistic services including nutritional guidance, exercise, yoga, and meditation

Before you are discharged from residential care, you will work with your substance abuse counselor to come up with an aftercare plan that works for you. Having your aftercare plan lined up before you leave rehab will allow you to feel supported and confident upon discharge.

Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)

After you complete residential treatment, you will likely transition to a partial hospitalization program (PHP). PHP can be described as a step-down from residential treatment, yet more intensive than outpatient treatment. During this level of care, you will attend structured treatment and therapy during the day that is similar to residential treatment. The primary difference between residential and PHP is that you get to return home in the evening. For many people, PHP is the first step of their continuum of care. 

Intensive Outpatient Programming (IOP)

Intensive outpatient programming, better known as IOP, is the next step in the continuum of care after PHP. These programs exist to treat addictions and other co-occurring disorders on an outpatient basis. Rather than participating in therapy and counseling all day, you will only spend 10-12 hours a week in IOP. This level of care focuses a lot on relapse prevention and life-skills training as it allows patients to access a new level of independence – something that may also come with new challenges and triggers. When faced with a trigger, however, IOP can provide you with the support you need to stay on the right track.

Sober Living in West Palm Beach

Whether you are participating in PHP, IOP, or a standard outpatient program, staying at a sober living home in West Palm Beach may be an appropriate aftercare option for you. Research shows that one contributor to relapse is the lack of stable, supportive, and sober housing. Many people who leave treatment don’t have a supportive household to go back to or cannot afford rent on their own. Sober living homes exist to help bridge the housing gap experienced by people in recovery who leave rehab.

Sober living homes require you to undergo random drug and alcohol testing, follow house rules, pay your rent, and participate in a sober support group. They also provide you with safe, supportive, and sober housing that is shared among you and other individuals who all share a common goal: staying sober. While sober living homes do not offer formal, professional treatment, they do help residents maintain structure and accountability in their lives.

Support Groups (Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, SMART, Etc.)

Addiction is often referred to as a disease of isolation, but the opposite can be said about recovery. Recovery is all about connecting with yourself and other sober individuals. Support groups, like 12-Step groups and other alternatives, can provide you with ongoing support, encouragement, and fellowship with like-minded individuals. 

Many people begin participating in a sober support group as soon as they leave rehab. Members of these groups extend their support and guidance to one another to promote sobriety within the group. While some people only participate in recovery support groups while beginning their recovery, others choose to attend meetings for several years or the rest of their lives.

Discharge Planning That Meets Your Unique Needs

The most reliable and effective aftercare plans are those that take a comprehensive and evidence-based approach to meet your individual needs. Here at Daylight Recovery Center in West Palm Beach, we know how crucial it is to consider your personal beliefs, experiences, and goals when it comes to your treatment, which is why our highly trained clinical and medical experts work together to tailor custom treatment plans that meet your personal needs. And, when you finish treatment with us, we’ll set you up with a custom aftercare plan that puts you on the path towards lasting sobriety.

What are you waiting for? Give us a call today to speak with an addiction counselor.